LETTERS
DECK LOG Dave Brown and I were talking about the Experiment, the Hudson River sloop that sailed halfway round the world to China in 1785. Rear Admiral David Brown, president of the State University of New York Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, leads Clutching his new DLitt, our President expounds on the project to build a working the Experiment as SUNY Maritime College Presirep li ca of this gallant 60-foot top- dent RADM David Brown waits his turn to get in sail sloop, servi ng as Project Ex- a word or two. (Photo: SUNY Maritime College) periment co-ch airm an with Peekskill (NY) City Manager General Patrick Garvey, USMC (Ret). Supported by educators and civic leaders, the Project mission is to tie the Hudson River towns together in shipborne educational program. T his will revive to fresh purpose the riverine communications system that helped build New York State and the nation. It wi ll help people young and old learn at first hand how all this happened-and what it was really like along the way. This venture, ab ly piloted by our great friend, the late Basil Harrison, is set forth in Basil's own words on page 30 of this issue, supplemented by the artist Len Tantill o's appreciation of the Experiments place in Hudson River history, on pages 28-31. We shall all be aware of Basil's cheerful, dedicated sp irit as Project Experiment goes forward in coming months. The occas ion ofAdmiral Brown's and my exchange of ideas was the graduation of the summer class at the Maritime College in the Bronx, New York. Founded in 1874 aboard the schoolship St. Mary's, this venerable institution is alive wi th new initiatives and outreach into the local urban neighborhoods, while it turns out heads-up citizens ab le to take on the wo rld and to uphold the traditions of American seafaring. I was on deck to receive an honorary degree as Doctor of Letters. Addressing the graduating class, I talked abo ut Felix Riesenberg, a shipmaster and later president of the schoolship that became the college. This plain-spoken man never lost his seamanly ways and learning, hard-won in rugged Cape Horn sailing in the Down East three-skysail-yarder A.}. Fuller. He also m ade his mark in the literary world, writing the classic Under Sail and other books that live today. With Riesenberg, as with our friend Basil, words and acts spring from the same so urce. In the 1920s he joined forces with the novelist Christopher Morley to getasquarerigger sailing under the American fl ag again-a project which succeeded when James Farrell of Farrell Lines moved in to pick up where the Three Hours for Lunch Club left off. But that's another story, for another day ....
"The American Experiment" T he Experiment will benefit from the taunt seamanly style found at the Maritime College as it will from the active, open approach to learning Basil Harrison brought it. From it will surely grow new initiatives in learn ing-and the sense of fun that grows from dedicated service to a good cause! President George Washington (a more witty and innovative person than pictured by some dour ideologues) spoke of the young Republic he led as "the American Experimen t. " The sense of adventure in that phrase, and the simple readiness to be judged by results achieved under the open sky, pose an everrenewed challenge to succeeding generations of Americans. And it is in that young and wise spirit that the sloop Experiment will sail. - PETER STANFORD
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Encouraging Notes from Pete Seeger I've just finished reading Sea H istory 85, and write in deep admiration . I'm taking yo u up on your offer to sponsor gift memberships. O ne of my grandfa thers had two uncl es lost at sea-one was a m ate on a merchant ship swept overboard in an A tlantic gale in 1820, another captain of a navy ship sunk off Veracruz in 1844. M y ocher grandfather was a navy man who saw action in Cuba 100 years ago, and a few years later got to meet Joshua Slocum when the laner was lecturing in Nantucket. Keop oo!
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PETE SEEGER
Beacon, New York Solidarity from the Boston Marine Society At a meeting of th e Boston Marine Society on 13 October, it was voted to make a donatio n of $25 0 to "Do So mething for the Ship ." A nd, bycheway, lrvingJohnson, whose words ini tiated the campaign, was a member of the Society. CAPT. HAROLD F. LYNC H Secretaty/T reasurer Boston Marine Society Bosto n, Massachusetts We aregratefit!for the supportofthe world's oldest marine society, established in 1742.-ED.
Ernestina Extends Her Thanks O n behalf of the Schoo ner Ernestina, official vessel of th e Co mm o nwealth of Massach usetts, I wo uld like to express o ur sin ce re app reciation to the Rockland Co un ty Bicentennial Committee, the National Maritime Histo rical Society, the local officials of Stony Point and al l the peo ple of th e comm uni ty who wo rked together for an exceptio nal event, great hosp itali ty and a m emorable visit to Rockland for a great Hudso n River celebration Memorial Day weeke nd. You made us feel very welcome. We commend al l fo r pulling the stops out and going for such a big event, the Tal l Ships Riverfest. Congratulations on your success. GREGG SWANZEY, Executive D irector Schooner Ernesti na Foundatio n New Bedford, Massachusetts Schooner Ernestina Foundation, Box 2010, New Bedford MA 02741-2010; web site: www.ernestina.org.
SEA HISTORY 87, WINTER 1998-99